Maken to introduce revised Bill in parliament

New Delhi, Nov 18: The inter-ministerial consultations on the revised Sports Development Bill has started, according to Sports Minister Ajay Maken who today expressed hope of introducing the Bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

The Sports Bill, aimed at ushering transparency and accountability in the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSF) by bringing them under the purview of the RTI Act, was earlier rejected by the Cabinet, which asked the Sports Minister to rework on it.

But armed with a redrafted Bill, Mr. Maken said he would leave no stone unturned to make the sports legislation a reality.

“As far as the National Sports Bill is concerned, we have redrafted it. The inter-ministerial consultation has already started and we will soon take it up with the Cabinet," Mr. Maken said on the sidelines of a conference of sports ministers of various states.

“We are hoping to place this bill before the Parliament in the upcoming winter session," he added.

Taking a dig at the BCCI, which is against the Bill even in the revised form, the Sports Minister said any federation which was using the name of the country is a public body and has to come under the RTI act.

“Whether BCCI or any other body, they should come under RTI. They should have 25 per cent reservations for sportspersons and age and tenure limitations because these things will bring in transparency in their functioning," Mr. Maken said.

“Any institution which is seeking profit from the government should come under the RTI. If you are selecting a team known as India that means you are doing a public function," he said.